Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at Pacific Union College

Pacific Union College's allied health program shows dramatic earnings growth—graduates go from $32,726 in year one to $60,013 by year four, an 83% jump that suggests students are moving into higher-paying healthcare roles after gaining initial experience. That year-four figure is particularly strong, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly with more data.

The $27,000 in typical debt sits at the national median for California health programs, but it's more than double the national average across all schools offering this degree. Still, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.83 is manageable, especially given how quickly earnings accelerate. At the 60th percentile among California programs, this puts Pacific Union slightly above the state median—not exceptional, but solid positioning in a competitive state healthcare market.

The real question is whether that early-career earning period feels financially viable. First-year graduates earn about the same as the national and state medians, so you're not getting an immediate premium for the higher debt load. But if the earnings trajectory holds, graduates could be earning nearly double their debt within four years. Given the limited sample, treat these numbers as promising but not guaranteed—this program could work well for students who can manage a few lean years before their careers accelerate.